ARK

The Kellenberg Memorial experience is primarily a faith experience in the context of a school community. The religious life of the school centers around the ARK. The ARK is our campus ministry center. The word ARK stands for Apostolic Response at Kellenberg. Known for its spiral staircase, the ARK is home for our religious activities and serves as the place that organizes the faith life of our school.

Each day at Kellenberg Memorial is a religious experience:

Daily Mass is offered before the beginning of the school day at 7:20 a.m. in Maria Regina Chapel of Our Lady. All the members of the Kellenberg Memorial family may attend–students, parents, family members, faculty and staff.

The school day begins with a short prayer service in homeroom which is broadcast over the school television system. At that time special prayers are said for the members of the Kellenberg Memorial Family who are seriously ill or have died. The spirit of prayer continues through the entire day with prayer before each class, with the daily recitation of the Angelus at noon and with our final prayer, the “Three O’Clock Prayer,” at the end of the day.

Midday Prayer is prayed every day in the Maria Regina Chapel at the beginning of all lunch periods and is open to every student.

In addition to these daily events, the faith dimension is emphasized through the following:

a) On the Feast of The Triumph of the Cross, the year spiritually begins when the entire school gathers outside near the cross for an opening Prayer Service. The Feast of The Triumph of the Cross is a focal moment at Kellenberg Memorial, a time where we recall the power of God’s love for us and his triumph over sin and death.

b) Each month the entire school comes together for the celebration of the Eucharist. Four Masses are celebrated simultaneously in the auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, and a Senior Mass in the Millennium Room.

c) The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at any time from one of the priests on the staff.

d) Special emphasis is given to the liturgical seasons of Advent, Lent and Easter. One major focal point at these times is the school-wide Prayer Service which is presented by the Kellenberg Memorial students.

e) Each year the Kellenberg Memorial Family gathers for an annual communion breakfast. Mass is celebrated in the auditorium followed by breakfast in the cafeteria. There are two communion breakfasts, one for the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, and the other for the 10th, 11th and 12th grades on Palm Sunday.

f) The Christmas Midnight Mass is celebrated each year in the auditorium for the Kellenberg Memorial Family. The celebration begins at 11:30 p.m. with traditional Christmas carols sung by the chorus.

g) As a Marianist school, particular emphasis is given to Mary as Mother of God. The Rosary Prayer Service is held in conjunction with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. In addition, each May we crown Mary our Mother in the presence of our entire school community. Throughout the course of the year, other Marian feasts are highlighted.

h) Students are encouraged to become involved in the many religious and service activities which are conducted in school. Students are invited to join in the prayer of the Universal Church before each lunch period. Midday prayer is recited in the Maria Regina student chapel.

EMMANUEL – The Marianist Retreat House

Emmanuel, the Marianist Retreat House, enables the school to intensify its efforts in the spiritual formation of its students. Emmanuel means “God with us” and the goal of each retreat program is to make all individuals more aware of the daily presence and power of God in their lives. The retreat staff has developed many programs for the school:

a) Sixth Grade Retreat – The Sixth Grade Retreat takes place at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island in Eastport. This day retreat focuses on the basic devotional elements of our faith including a spiritual journey of the suffering Jesus using life-size Stations of the Cross.

b) Seventh Grade Retreat – The Seventh Grade Retreat begins with Mass. This important Catholic liturgy and its accompanying symbols are fully explained, as well as the various appointments in our school’s chapel. The students then move to Emmanuel for a video on Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego. Students role-play various Gospel parables, and end focusing on the importance of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

c) Eighth Grade Retreats – The themes for the Eighth Grade Retreat are geared to the junior high student who is beginning to encounter not only new beginnings but also new challenges. Students participate in small group discussions with members of the Junior Retreat Staff.

d) Freshman Retreats – Beginning in January, Freshmen will attend a full day retreat in Emmanuel. This homeroom retreat is run with the assistance of members of the Junior Retreat Staff and Peer Educators. The Program is based upon the belief that we all are created in God’s image and likeness. In this context, we introduce the students to the role that negative self-esteem, sex, drugs and alcohol can play in their lives if they fail to recognize God’s overwhelming love for each of us.

e) Sophomore Retreats – At the beginning of the year, Sophomores attend a full day retreat in Emmanuel. The program focuses on the discovery and the developing of the spiritual life for teens. Discussions and presentations cover themes that deal with self esteem, contrasting the values of Jesus with the values of the world and developing a personal relationship with Jesus. Members of the Senior class assist with these programs.

f) Junior Retreats – The Junior retreat is a full two day, overnight program with an emphasis on “Self Knowledge Through Community,” using themes from the junior religion course, Christian Morality. The Junior Retreat is a community experience where the students prepare common meals, share in discussions, participate in common recreation in an attempt to form a Christian Community of one heart and one mind. Celebration of the Eucharist, prayer services, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, time for quiet prayer and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation emphasize the fact that faith flourishes in community.

g) Senior Retreats – The Senior Retreat is also a full two day, overnight program that focuses on the challenges that the Seniors are meeting as they go through the personal transition that soon leads to college. The highlight in the evening is a Eucharistic Adoration Candle Prayer Service which focuses on spiritual needs including hope, honesty, courage, truth, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

h) Sodality/Sports/Activity Retreats – In addition to the regular retreat programs there are also retreats for Sodality groups, athletic teams and school clubs.

FOUNDER’S HOLLOW

This 150-acre plot of scenic property in upstate New York was acquired by the Province of Meribah to augment apostolic and retreat work. Founder’s Hollow is named in honor of Father William Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Society of Mary, who was beatified by Pope John II on September 3, 2000 in Rome, Italy. Various activities and athletic teams may use the facility for retreats, workshops, work weekends, seminars and training programs of an educational nature. All activities at Founder’s Hollow are coordinated by the Director of Founder’s Hollow.

THE SODALITY OF OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR

The Sodality of Our Lady of the Pillar takes its origins from Father Chaminade and the work of the earliest Marianists. The Sodality movement became a great source for evangelizing youth after the turmoil of the French Revolution in an age where the practice of religion was almost nonexistent.

At Kellenberg Memorial the Sodality has several goals:

a) To foster awareness of our baptismal commitment to live as a Christian.

b) To develop a greater sense of Christian community in each individual Sodality group. Jesus
founded a community and it is the goal of Sodality to make each member realize the strengths that come from being in and praying with others.

c) To acquire a deeper knowledge of Jesus and Mary by discussing and praying the Scriptures. d) To reflect on serious faith and moral issues which touch the lives of a young person today. These goals are achieved through weekly Sodality Meetings held every Monday beginning at 3:00 p.m. and concluding at 3:30 p.m. This time is considered so valuable that no other school activities are scheduled at this time. Students are also encouraged to participate in retreats, religious activities and community volunteer programs. Because no other activity meets during Sodality, participation is not listed as a school activity.

All students enrolled in grades nine through twelve are eligible for joining Sodality. The Sodality groups are faith evolving groups, where the individual can grow spiritually with the same Faculty Moderator and group each year. The Sodality groups are organized according to division by the Directors of Sodality.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

The Sodality of Our Lady of the Pillar sponsors Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each Monday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the Maria Regina Chapel. All members of the Kellenberg Memorial Family are welcome to attend. Each Monday, various Sodalities sponsor a prayer experience to begin Adoration usually lasting thirty minutes.

XLT

XLT (Exalt) is an intense worship experience centered around Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. On one Wednesday evening a month, students are invited to join their classmates and faculty for dinner, a presentation by a notable speaker and prayer.